Sounding tips | What equipment do you need for sounding ?!

We've done the maths ... all in all, we here in the team have a total of " 18 years of exploration experience "! It's quite clear that each and every one of us has made the odd bad purchase in terms of equipment during this time: sometimes we wanted to save on the cost of a new spade (and then threw the broken spade into the forest in a huff) and other times we thought "Oh, the cheap pinpointer will do". Looking back, each of us has made one or two mistakes when choosing our equipment in the past and has paid the classic price for this. To make sure this doesn't happen to you, we've put together a list of the equipment you really need for exploring and the items that really matter ...

Clothing for exploring

Of course, your clothing should always be adapted to the weather and the search area.

In summer or in the warmer months, you should of course choose clothing that is as long as possible but still light to prevent sunburn - shorts and a muscle shirt are usually not such a good idea. If you are searching in tall grass, you should (depending on the region) wear light-coloured and long trousers because of the risk of ticks (tuck your trousers into your socks for safety!).

In winter and during the cold season, you should of course wrap up well to ensure that you have fun while exploring and to prevent colds. Waterproof rainwear should always be with you or in the boot. In changeable weather, we have got into the habit of always carrying a waterproof and windproof jacket in a light rucksack (there is nothing more annoying than having to walk back to the car when the weather changes).

The Bundeswehr offers highly recommended clothing for the cold season! Although we have a mixed relationship with camouflage clothing in the team, the quality of a good parka from the Bundeswehr simply cannot be disputed. Of course, it's a nice thing to be able to pursue your hobby in peace and avoid questions from passers-by while wearing camouflage clothing. Nevertheless, a prospector - who sneaks around completely in camouflage clothing - can very easily leave a bitter aftertaste with passers-by.

Over the years, we have noticed that the jacket and jumper in particular can always slip out of place when digging. Some people's kidneys got cold and then had to take a break from digging for at least a week due to illness. In cold weather, it's therefore a good idea to wear kidney protection. And no, it's not just for old people!

Sturdy, waterproof and breathable shoes with a good grip are a matter of course when exploring. If you think about the distances you have to cover and how many holes you have to close with your shoes, then it is clear that good footwear is essential. If you are searching in a damp or wet field you should of course wear wellies (in winter the wellies should be lined if possible).

A pinpointer - yes or no?

A beginner is usually not yet familiar with his detector and needs a while to get to grips with his Metalldetektoren. Without a pinpointer, beginners often dig huge holes because they are not yet able to localise the exact position of the object so well and reliably. A pinpointer is therefore highly recommended for beginners!

Advanced prospectors or professionals usually do without a pinpointer, as they are usually familiar with their detector and can usually locate an object with centimetre accuracy - the signal from the Metalldetektoren and/or the pinpoint function of the detector alone are sufficient. Nevertheless, we like to use pinpointers in the team - they often simply save digging time.

However, you should always pay attention to the quality of the pinpointer! It is better to spend a few euros more. Cheap pin pointers usually don't deliver what they promise - sometimes the locating tip breaks off or the pin pointer gets wet and gives up the ghost. Buying a good product straight away saves money.

Summary:

Clothing should protect you in summer and be functional. Wear long trousers in summer (depending on the region) because of the risk of ticks. In changeable and uncertain weather, always carry a light rain jacket.

In winter, clothing for exploring should be warm but also waterproof and windproof.

As far as the pinpointer is concerned, it is better to buy a good product straight away. Buying a branded product saves you having to learn the hard way and buying twice.

Footwear for exploring must guarantee a firm grip and should be adapted to the search area. Rubber boots are highly recommended on wet meadows or damp fields (with inner lining in winter).